Being on the job market can be an exhausting, challenging, and sometimes disappointing endeavor. While every situation is different, studies show that on average it takes 3-6 months to land a new job. If it feels like you’ve been on the hunt for a while and are getting discouraged by the lack of activity and results, know that you’re not alone and it is not a reflection of your self-worth. In today’s blog, we’ll look at some of the reasons why your job search may be taking longer than you anticipated and ways to speed up the process.
Why It’s Taking So Long
There are several factors to consider as to why your job search may be taking longer than anticipated. These factors include the economy, time of year, job experience, flexibility, length of unemployment, and your professional network. In an article on Time, they talk about the current market and how challenging it is for those looking for a job saying “There is now, on average, one job opening for every two applicants on LinkedIn, a big change from early 2022, when there was one job opening per applicant on average.” They go on to say “Part of this changing balance of power is related to uncertainty in the economy. Hiring managers and human resources personnel may think that they have the budget to hire one week, and then find out, after they’ve posted the job and even conducted interviews, that the company has changed its mind. The barriers in the interview process may explain why more people seeking employment are turning to freelancing and part-time jobs—perhaps they are trying to avoid wasting their time jumping through companies’ hoops when they aren’t likely to get a job.” So, if you are finding this market incredibly challenging, know that you’re not alone and don’t give up on your search.
What You Can Do
While there are certain aspects outside of your control when on the job market, the good news is that there is a lot still within your control. Here are a few tips…
Enlist Help
One way to potentially speed up your search is to enlist help. Expand and utilize your professional network to find out about new opportunities and have your connections offer introductions to new potential employers. To set yourself up for the best success, let your network know what type of role it is that you’re looking for and what skills and experience you have. Another strategy is to work with a recruiter who will know the local market and will be working on actively filling open job opportunities. Recruiters, such as those at SNI Companies, work with reputable companies and their sole focus is to fill the job openings those companies have which can help save you a lot of time and energy.
Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage
While most on the job market have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, there is more you can do to utilize LinkedIn to help you land your next job. In an article in Forbes, they write “LinkedIn is more than just a profile, it’s a place to showcase your skills and expertise. Write short posts that showcase your knowledge. Share content that’s relevant to your industry. Comment on other posts and engage with people who comment on your posts. You never know who might see your content, and a post you write could end up landing you a job. LinkedIn is also a great way to search for jobs, both through their dedicated job listings and by searching for company posts about job openings.”
Prepare
While in today’s market it’s an accomplishment in itself to schedule an interview, you need to excel during that interview to secure the job. In the same Forbes article they write, “Acing your interview is how you land a job, so preparing for that interview is incredibly important. Many jobs ask the same base set of questions about strengths and weaknesses, skills, and working styles, so you can practice answering them ahead of time. Study your resume so you can reiterate key points, paying special attention to anything quantifiable such as sales figures, percentages, or other data points. The more confidently you can speak about yourself, the more likely it is that you’ll impress the hiring manager.”